Scenes from the Life of Viscount Medardo

Notes

Viscount Medardo of Terralba is a character in Italo Calvino’s short story The Cloven Viscount. After being split in two by a canon ball in battle with the Turks, the left half and the right half of the Viscount (a good half and a bad half) each separately return home to Italy, falling in love with the same girl and eventually having a sword fight on horseback to decide who shall marry her.

This version of Scenes from the Life of Viscount Medardo was commissioned by sound and Red Note Ensemble for soundfestival. The first performance was given by Richard Watkins (solo horn) and the Red Note Ensemble at Aberdeen Arts Centre, 30/01/21.